MRE - Chapter 22 - Yizhan Fanfiction

Chapter 22

After a month of execution of the Wen Clan, the emperor decided to appoint new ministers from the empire, almost all of them are from the cultivation clan that was forced to renounce their position in the palace. These are the Jiang Yunmeng Clan, Qinghe Nie Clan, Lanling Jin Clan and some from the Gusu Lan Clan as well, especially Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen was appointed as the new military of war and advisor of the emperor. For the last month the palace has been busy with the sudden changes of the officials, they will hold a private meeting without the empress. Originally the empress and Youwem were former allies of the Wen Clan as well, so the emperor told them to hide in the inn first.

Also, the new officials will visit after the Wen Clan prohibits them from visiting the palace. Before appointing them, the emperor cleared their clan’s name as the Wen clan falsified some documents to make them criminals and renounced to their positions. However, since the previous ministers are already old, they have decided to appoint their heirs as the new officials.

The Yunmeng Jiang Clan was only allowed to enter when the empress woke up after his incident but after that the Wen Clan threatened the empress and held the family hostages as the Wen Clan was suspicious of the empress. Xiao Xingchen was appointed as the official who handles the literature and arts.

However, some of the officials from the other clans have been questioning him, why not make him the empress instead of Wei Wuxian. The emperor didn’t directly answer but told them that it’s not the issue right now. They also wanted to haste the wedding between Xiao Xingchen and the emperor without knowing that the emperor decided not to divorce the current empress.

Unfortunately, even if the Wen clan was executed, they couldn’t find the other pieces of the Yin Iron. The former ministers from cultivation clan are worried that someone might use this again for heretic path. Some of them also received reports that the empress has a piece of the Yin Iron as well, that is why they wanted to punish the current empress.

“Your Majesty, I know that you understand where our worries are coming from. It is not like the empress does any good in the palace. I am sure that he knows about the Yin Iron as well since he was in coalition with Wen Rouhan, we also received reports that he himself is using it,” Su She said, he came from the minor family that is related to the Gusu Lan clan and became a founder of the Moling Su clan.

“For the past months the empress has been working nonstop in the imperial palace during those times I was bed ridden due to the explosion, he also helps me to subjugate the Wen Clan, he may be in coalition with Wen Rouhan but he doesn’t do anything that will hire the empire,” the emperor said as he defended the empress.

“He has a bad reputation within the palace! Even the attendants fear him!”

“Enough Su She! The empress will not leave the palace.”

Some of the officials agreed with Su She and those who are related to the empress are worried especially when they haven’t seen him for the past month in the palace. The emperor is also busy accommodating their personal request, but the Jiang siblings can no longer wait. After the meeting, they asked the emperor not as their emperor but as their brother-in-law.

“Your Majesty, we are really sorry to disturb you, but we are really worried with A-xian, we haven’t talked for a long time, and we only received his letter and gifts,” Jian Yanli said.

“Please let us know where he is, we haven’t seen him ever since we arrived here,” Jiang Cheng added.

“Do not worry, he is safe, and I will request for him tomorrow so there’s no need to disclose his current location for his safety as well, I’m really sorry to worry you,” the emperor said. The two agreed to the emperor.

As promised by the emperor, he requests the empress to return to the palace, since the inn is just near, their party arrived in no time. The Jiang siblings has been waiting for the empress in the palace and to Xiao Zhan’s surprise he saw the two other important people in his life.

“Ajie! Acheng! What are you guys doing here! How are you!” Xiao Zhan happily said. They might be the same as him, they are the ancestors of Xuan Lu and Zhoucheng, they look the same, their personalities are the same as well.

“We should be the one who asked that, how are you Axian?”

“I’m fine a-jie, and you a-Cheng, grumpy as always,” Xiao Zhan teased. The three spent they time catching in for the few months, but even though the empress was already in the palace, Youwen has been disguising himself and only guard the empress in the shadows, he knows what the is the reason, the emperor do not trust him and like what he said he is only loyal to the empress.

After almost a whole day catching up with his siblings, the empress decided to visit the emperor in his office. As expected, he is still busy with his duties, the empress tried to quietly sneak into his office as if it was like a library, but the emperor noticed him.

“My empress, why are you still here?” The emperor asked as he assisted the empress to sit in one of the chairs.

“Being a gentleman, are we? Hahaha” Xiao Zhan teased.

“It is my duty, my empress. I should have done it a long time ago,” the emperor said as it showed into his face.

“Aiya, no worries no worries at least you already secured the throne, that all matters. Hey, would you like to unwind outside the palace?” Xiao Zhan asked.

“Right now? Aren’t you tired?”

“Of course not, are you?” Xiao Zhan said.

“Of course not, I am always available for you,” the emperor said as he gently kissed the hand of the empress. Xiao Zhan suddenly gets shy by the sudden action of the emperor and wonders if it is already common during this period.

The two of them decided to walk into the city, good thing that there’s a current festival and they can wear mask and freely enjoys the night. Xiao Zhan excitedly asked his husband to buy different things and food and the emperor kindly obliged and thought that he should buy more things for his empress. They decided to enjoy the nights without worries and the two decided to share some alcohol in their room. The morning came and the emperor woke up alone in his room with a severe heads ache and groggy feeling, he hurriedly calls for Xue Yang.

“Where’s the empress?! Look for him right now! Don’t let him go!” the emperor said as he commands Xue Yang.

That previous night before they entered their chamber, they asked the guard to leave the palace as the empress requested to give them some privacy. The Xue Yang and the other guard follows the empress order as it was commanded by the emperor as well, they are a bit hesitant and only guard the emperor palace instead.

The two talked for the meantime while drinking some Emperor Smile, and the emperor said, “You should have lessened your alcohol intake, it is not good for your health.”

“Aiyo Lan Zhan Lan Zhan, let me enjoy the night! It’s been a while since I am here in the palace.”

“I know, but I’m just worried about your health, you tend to be workaholic and hit the bar,” the emperor mumbles the last part.

“Huh? Sorry I didn’t hear the last part; ah I have something to ask! What are you and Xingchen plans?” Xiao Zhan asked. The emperor flinched with the sudden question, that’s right he hasn’t inform the empress about Xiao Xingchen.

“I will no longer marry him, I already have you,” but the emperor said but suddenly he feels like he is losing consciousness, there’s a weird smell coming from the incense. The emperor tried to fight back the sleepiness the potion in the incense is potent, but the empress just stood in front of him worriedly and assisted him to his bed.

“What’s the meaning of this Wei Ying?” the emperor weakly said as he tried to stay conscious.

“I’m sorry Lan Zhan, but this is for your own good. You will not be happy if I am in this palace and no one will, I know what’s happening within the council and you need to build a strong empire so there will not be a second Wen clan. My existence is just a hindrance, and this has been our plan for a long time now. I hope you will be happy, now please sleep well, my emperor, goodbye,” Xiao Zhan said as he kissed the emperor’s forehead, he wanted to kiss him on his lips but he may look like Wang Yibo but he is not him.

Before the emperor fully lose his consciousness, he mumbles, “Do, not, leave, Xiao Zhan.”

Xiao Zhan discovered a secret passage thanks to Wei Wuxian’s memories, however before he left, he thought that he heard someone called his name but reality struck him that is impossible, he didn’t even mention his other world’s name to Lan Zhan and thought that he might be imagining things. For him, Wei Wuxian’s role has been ended and thankfully that he also saved Wei Wuxian’s life unlike in the book where he was killed pitifully and no one even cares. Right now, he decided to make Lan Zhan happy and wish that he could return to the other world as this was his planned from the start.

AN: 🤓